‘Modern Family,’ ‘Breaking Bad’ Win Top Awards At Primetime Emmys

Aaron Paul, winner of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Anna Gunn, winner of the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, and Bryan Cranston, winner of the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, for the show ‘Breaking Bad’, attend the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards Governors Ball held at Los Angeles Convention Center on August 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

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LOS ANGELES (AP) — “Modern Family” and “Breaking Bad” triumphed at Monday’s Emmy Awards, proving that established broadcast and cable fare retains the power to fend off challenges from upstart online series such as “Orange Is the New Black.”

“He made us laugh. Hard. Every time you saw him,” Crystal said of Williams at the conclusion of a tribute to industry members who died within the past 12 months. “Robin Williams, what a concept.”

ABC’s “Modern Family” won a fifth best comedy series Emmy, tying the record set by “Frasier,” while the final season of AMC’s “Breaking Bad” captured the top drama award and a trio of acting honors for its stars.

“I have gratitude for everything that has happened,” Cranston said. His victory ties him with four-time best drama actor champ Dennis Franz. Cranston’s co-stars Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn were honored in categories for best drama supporting acting — he for the third time and she for the second straight year — and the series won its second consecutive best drama award.

“Thank you for this wonderful farewell to our show,” ”Breaking Bad” creator Vince Gilligan said of the series about a teacher-turned-drug kingpin that ended with a bang.

A broadcast win was scored by CBS’s “The Good Wife” star Julianna Margulies, honored as best lead actress in a drama series. “What a wonderful time for women on television,” Margulies said.

Julianna Margulies accepts Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for ‘The Good Wife’ onstage at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

McConaughey was the object of too-handsome jokes by presenter Jimmy Kimmel and adoration by winner Gail Mancuso, honored as best director for an episode of “Modern Family.” It was one of the better gags of the night.

“If you don’t mind, Matthew McConaughey, I’m gonna make eye contact with you right now,” she said from the stage, making good by holding the actor’s gaze for much of her speech.

The ceremony honoring the best of TV wasn’t shy about playing the movie-star card. “Six minutes to Woody Harrelson” flashed on screen during Colin Bucksey’s acceptance speech for best miniseries direction for “Fargo.”

Harrelson and his “True Detective” co-star were given time to banter before announcing that Benedict Cumberbatch of “Sherlock: His Last Vow” was the winner of the best miniseries actor award.

“So you won Oscar, (People magazine’s) Sexiest Man Alive and now you want an Emmy, too. Isn’t that a little bit greedy?” Harrelson teased his fellow nominee.

“Fargo” was named best miniseries, and the award for best miniseries actress went to Jessica Lange of “American Horror Story: Coven.”

CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons was crowned as best comedy series actor, giving him his fourth Emmy and putting him in company with all-time sitcom winners Carroll O’Connor, Kelsey Grammer and Michael J. Fox.

Jim Parsons poses in the press room after winning the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Award for The Big Bang Theory (Episode: "The Relationship Diremption") during the 66th Emmy Awards (Photo credit MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

“Modern Family” also captured a best comedy supporting actor trophy for Ty Burrell. Allison Janney was honored as best supporting comedy actress for CBS’ “Mom,” adding to the trophy she’d already picked up as guest actress on Showtime’s “Masters of Sex.”

Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who received her third consecutive best comedy actress Emmy for the political comedy “Veep,” drew big laughs as she stopped to exchange faux heated kisses with Cranston, who earlier was her co-presenter and who appeared with her on “Seinfeld.”

“The Colbert Report” was honored as best variety series for its farewell season, with its star departing to take over for David Letterman on CBS’ “Late Show.”

Meyers kicked off the ceremony by tweaking his home network, NBC, and other broadcasters for being eclipsed in the awards by cable series and online newcomers like “Orange Is the New Black.”

Noting that the Emmys moved to Monday night to avoid a conflict with Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards, he said that MTV doesn’t really specialize in videos anymore.

“That’s like network TV holding an awards show and giving all the trophies to cable and Netflix. That would be crazy,” Meyers joked — but the outcome proved him wrong.

Besides “Orange Is the New Black,” other shows that didn’t benefit from tactical category choices included “Shameless,” which moved from drama to comedy consideration, and “True Detective,” with its close-ended story that smacked of a miniseries.

The ceremony’s traditional “in memoriam” tribute to industry members who have died in the past year flashed images of stars including James Garner, Ruby Dee, Sid Caesar, Carmen Zapata and Elaine Stritch as singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles sang “Smile.” It concluded with the tribute to Williams.

Another touching moment Monday: Director-producer Ryan Murphy dedicating the outstanding TV movie Emmy won by “The Normal Heart” to the many artists felled by the HIV virus and AIDS.